Rav4 hybrid noise when in reverse

Asked by Char100 Jul 08, 2019 at 10:13 AM about the 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid XSE AWD

Question type: General

I was told that the noise while in reverse is to warn
pedestrians you are backing out of a space. The
noise is very annoying and embarrassing. If
someone disconnects the sound are they taking a
risk? I wonder is there more liability or will
insurance company not cover you should you hit
someone while leaving parking space since
warning sound was disabled? Wondering should i
disable sound?

25 Answers

1,060

Just bought a 2019 RAV4 Hybrid XSE. The noise when backing up is unbearable. When looking into the grille, it’s the speaker to the right. Unclip the plastic trim just under the hood and you can reach your hand in there to unplug it. Very easy fix.

26 people found this helpful.
420

Alex, do you now get "Vehicle Proximity Modification System Malfunction" on the screen in front of the steering wheel--all the time?

9 people found this helpful.
200

We were told that the warning light will stay on indefinitely till you reinstall. If it were just a small ico lit up - no problem but the warning is large and in your range of sight on the screen behind the steering wheel. Bummer. We bought the car then cancelled the deal because of this ridiculous sound. 2020 prius does not have sound nor does new CRV hybrid nor 2020 lexus hybrids. It was a complete dealbreaker for us. Wish there was a way to reduce the sound rather than unplug it. We waited for this car, paid the dealer and when we heard it, we immediately ask for our money back. Really sad about this. Even a backup truck sound would have made more sense. At least people are used to hearing this rather than a "choir of Angels" (As wonderful as they are) being the sound.

8 people found this helpful.
200

Does anyone know if you can just turn down the sound on rav 4 hybrid?

12 people found this helpful.
320

Please note that the solution to this issue is to replace the noise generator speaker with a 4 ohm, 20 watt ceramic resistor. There is another thread on this site called "RAV4 hybrid noise". It has over 90 posts now (June 11/120). A few months ago Alex posted the complete solution. It is not difficult, nor is it expensive. Check it out on that thread.

29 people found this helpful.
70

Whoever said that the CR-V hybrid doesn't make a warning noise, that is false. The backup noise is there, but not as obnoxious as the Rav4, but when going forward it is twice as loud as the Rav4.

3 people found this helpful.
70

Agreed. I could live with the Rav4 forward warning, and the CR-V reverse warning.

2 people found this helpful.
30

If you know anyone who severely sight impaired or blind, you would probably understand the need for the noises. Blind people rely heavily on sounds in the surrounding environment. Hybrid cars that are completely quite make them very nervous.

3 people found this helpful.
80

I suggest leaving it on. I road bike a lot and these silent hybrid/electric cars are a real hazard. I just can't hear them. That's going forward and reverse. BTW I just bought a 2021 RAV4 hybrid and wondered about the noise it makes in reverse. It sounds more like a grinding noise to me, and any beep beep beep truck backing up. Can't we standardize the sound these vehicles make? What good is it to have a Toy make a grinding sound, and a Honda make a whoosh whoosh (or whatever sound) and real trucks go beep beep beep.

8 people found this helpful.
100

My excitement about having a new car after 10 years was short-lived, due to the noise. I hate it.

10 people found this helpful.
70

Rav4 makes noise going forward and backwards if the engine isn't running. It's just fairly quiet when going forward.

2 people found this helpful.
40

My car does not make noise if the engine is working when back up.

4 people found this helpful.
90

People who complain about reverse noise for pedestrians are the same people who are responsible for manufacturers adding fake exhaust notes to the interior. It’s not for you it’s for people you could hit. Same as a mask stfu and deal with it.

8 people found this helpful.
90

Haha. Yes. Also I forgot to mention it’s also the same people manufacturers add fake shift points and paddle shifters to CVTs.

1 people found this helpful.
10

@Ed92626 Do you have any more info on replacing this? I'd like to make it the Imperial March. :)

1 people found this helpful.
20

You don't need this if you pay attention and use the tools available to you, for example the back up camera. The key is when you back up you need to move ultra slowly and observe left/right and rearwards to be sure you're free of pedestrians and proceed at such speed that you can't really hurt a pedestrian even if you struck them. This will work far better than the noise maker because after all deaf people won't hear the annoying noise anyway. And the noisemaker won't protect even people with hearing if you back up wrecklessly. I will plan on disabling the noise maker until a 3rd party develops a suitable substitude plug and play replacement. There are zillions of the cars being sold now and very likely the aftermarket will jump in to fill the demand hopefully sooner than later.

2 people found this helpful.
30

Wow, Karen alert for the hybrid noise. Just be aware of your surroundings.

3 people found this helpful.
60

Just step on the gas pedal before reversing. The car will go into gas mode and will not make the noise.

6 people found this helpful.
20

The noise is obnoxious. I do not mind a beep sound or a bit less noise but it is so loud and it alerts my neighbors at night I'm coming and going. Everyone in the parking lot at the cafes, etc..just stop and stare like where the hell is that loud noise coming from. It is tooooo much noise. They really should modify it to be less like grinding metal noise. I am sorry I bought this car and it is my first hybrid. I hope other hybrids are less obnoxious.

2 people found this helpful.
50

We just got a 2023 Rav4, got it home and went to go for a drive, put the car in reverse and thought we had a serious problem. It sounded like grinding gears or brakes. We parked the car and called the dealership who had no idea what the problem was and asked us to bring it in for service. I understand a possible need for some sound to alert people, especially in reverse but this not only is so much loader than a gas car but it makes it sounds like the car has a serious mechanical issue. HATE IT!

5 people found this helpful.
40

WAY TOO LOAD..RAV SUV.. Take your ear buds out. Give me some peace. Toyota made a sound mistake . They distroyed a good car by adding that at such a high DB...

2 people found this helpful.
40

WE HAVE FRONT AND REAR SENSORS , SPEAKERS FWD AND BACK UP SPEAKER, DID NANCY PELOSI SUGGEST THIS. WHO GOT THE CHECK FOR THIS INSANITY. MAYBE EAR BUDS WITH A WARNING.

40

Toyota has a lemon. The warning noise when backing up the car is realy loud, deal braker loud. 2023 RAV4 HYBRID is sick.

2 people found this helpful.

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